Escape bell for submarines



Dec. '1, 1942. c. FERRO' 2,303,831

ESCAPE BELL FOR SUBMARINES Fired Aug. 28', "-1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 I lbyNTOR 44mg MM ATTORNEYS Dec. 1, 1942. c. F ERRO 2.30 55 ESCAPE BELL FOR SUBMARINES Filed Aug. 28, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet 2 N ENTOR I 30" 2 29 6 30 ATTORNEY.$

Dec. 1, 1942. c. FERRO ESCAPE BELL FOR SUBMARINES Filed Aug. 28, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENT 'R {@21 W1 44 d wm 4 2 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 1, 1942 ESCAPE BELL FOR SUBMARINES Oasimiro Ferro, West New Brighton, Staten Island, N. Y.

Application August 28, 1940, Serial No. 354,485

7 Claims.

This invention relates to an escape device for submarine or a salvage device for submarines or other vessels, and has for an object to provide a device of this character which includes a bell which can be lowered to a sunken submarine from salvage boats on the surface and attached to the submarine by men within the bell, so that it is not necessary to send a diver down to the sunken submarine to attach the bell thereto.

It is also an object to provide a device of this character in which after a submarine sinks the men in the submarine may release buoys or markers which will float to the top, and which will carry means associated with mechanism in the submarine by which lines connected to an escape bell may be so connected with the submarine that the bell may be lowered to the submarine by mechanism on the salvage boat and attached as above noted.

It is a further object to provide an improved means of attaching the escape bell to the submarine and to permit men to readily pass from the submarine to the bell or vice versa.

Although the device is shown, described and claimed in connection with a submarine, and particularly as an escape device therefor, it is to be understood it is adapted for other uses and for use with other types of vessels or ships, and may be employed for salvage operations and other uses.

With the foregoing and other objects in view I have devised the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification. The showing in the drawings however is somewhat diagrammatical without showing the complete specific details. It however is to be understood that I am not limited to the specific construction and arrangement shown but may employ various changes and modifications within the scope of the invention.

Inthese drawings:

Fig. 1 is a partial side elevation and partial section showing the escape bell attached to the submarine in position to permit men to pass between the submarine and the bell;

Fig. 2 is a section showing the bell in an intermediate position between the submarine and the surface of the water;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of one of the gear elements used to operate the clamping members;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of one of the securing members;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation thereof with a portion broken away;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the securing elements in the recess or compartment in the submarine with which the member of Figs. 3 to 6 cooperate;

Fig. 8 is a transverse section taken substantially on the plane ofline 8-8 Fig. 2. but with the bell seated in the compartment in the submarine;

Fig. 9 is a partial side elevation and a partial section of one of the securing elements;

Fig. 10 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 11 is a vertical section showing a some- What modified construction and Fig. 12 is a top plan view of the escape bell of Fig. 11 on a somewhat smaller scale.

Referring first to the construction of Figs. 1 to 10 a portion of the upper part of a sunken submarine is indicated diagrammatically at I having in its top wall a recess or compartment 2 into which the lower end portion 3 of an escape bell 4 may seat and be attached to permit a man to pass between the submarine and the bell. The recess or compartment 2 opens through the top or outer wall of the submarine, and of course is separated by a suitable wall construction from the interior of the submarine.

Under normal conditions the opening may be closed by suitable hinged closures 5 which may be secured in closed position by a suitable type of catch or securing means 6 constructed to be released either from within or without the compartment. In the lowerwall of the compartment is a port closed by a suitable closure 1 constructed so that it may beoperated either from within the submarine or from within the bell. The closures 5 may be operated by'any suitable means. By way of example I have shown a cable 8 connected to each section of the closure and operating through suitable guide means or bracket 9 to a wind-up drum Ill which may be operated by any suitable mechanism such as cranks II by men within the submarine and controlled by any suitable pawl and ratchet mechanism l2.

Also mounted within the compartment 2 are any suitable number of securing means. In the present instance they comprise threaded studs I3 suitably mounted in the lower wall of the compartment, and in the present case there are shown 3 of these studs, although the number may vary, Threaded on each stud is a nut l4 having gear teeth I5 in its outer periphery and the studs have a longitudinal passage l6 there-through for passage of suitable lines or cables I! connected to a float or buoy 18. This float may be located at any suitable position in the compartment 2, but preferably the stud is provided with a seat IS in its upper end on which the ball may rest and the ball has a downwardly extending tapered extension 26 seating in a similarly shaped extension 2| of the seat [9. The float may have any suitable means such as an eye 22 for connecting the line H, to the float. Means is provided for securing the float in the compartment which may be released from within the submarine so as to permit the buoy or float to rise to the surface. This securing means may comprise suitable rings 23 in the lines through which may pass a pin 24 which has a hand grip 25 cated in a position where it may be operated from within the submarine to release the buoy or float IS. The lines I! are wound on suitable drums 26 so that the float may be controlled from within the submarine, these drums being controlled and operated by any suitable mechanism such as the hand crank 21' and controlled by the pawl and ratchet 28. Between the drums 26 is a pulley 29 over which the lines pass when the float l8 has risen to the surface for a purpose presently to be described. The drums 26 are mounted in a suitable compartment 36 separated from the interior of the submarine. The float may carry any suitable equipment such as a telephone for communicating with the men in the submarine.

The escape bell 4 may be of any suitable construction but is preferably similar to the type now generally used, except that it includes the construction and mechanism involved in the present invention. No attempt has been made to illus-. trate in the drawings the details and arrangement of the interior construction and equipment except to indicate somewhat diagrammatically the mechanism involved in this invention. As shown the lower end portion 3 is shaped to enter and seat in the compartment 2 in the submarine and in order to make it water-tight when so seated suitable rubber or other packing 3| and 32 are provided on the inner walls of the compartment 2 and outer walls of the portion 3 res spectively. The lower'wall 33 of the bell has suitable openings 34 for passage of the nuts [4 and means is provided in the bell to cooperate with these nuts and their studs l3 to securely fasten the bell to the submarine.

- This fastening means is preferably arranged to beoperated by men within the bell so that it is not-necessary to send down a diver for this securing operation. The lower end portion 3 of the bell forms a compartment 35 in which is located a securing member 36 having limited turning movements therein, and to facilitate these movements it may be mounted on suitable ball bearings 31, This member 36 is in the general shape of a plate having in it key-hole shaped openings 38 equal in number to the number of studs l3 and similarly positioned. Each opening 38 has a larger portion 33 of a size to permit passage of a nut l4, and communicating with this portion 3| is a narrower portion 40 of less width than the diameter of the nut [4 but slightly larger than the diameter of the studs l3. The mem-:

ber 36 is connected to a sleeve portion 4| to the upper part of which is connected an operating handle 42. When the bell is lowered to seat the portion 3 in the compartment 2 the nuts l4 pass through the'enlarged portions 39 of the openings 38, and then the member 36 may be given a partial revolution by means of the handle 42 to carry the narrower portion 46 underthe nuts 14 and about the studs I3.

Suitable mechanism is provided to operate the nuts M to clamp them down onto the member 36 to secure the bell to the submarine or other vessel. This mechanism comprises a gear 43 on the upper side of the member 36 and embraces the sleeve 4i. It is mounted for turning movements, and these movements may be facilitated by supporting it on suitable ball-bearings 44. A suitable handle 45 is connected to this gear for operating it, and this handle, together with handle 42 is located above the top wall 35a of compartment 35 where they are easily accessible. Suitable packing or gaskets 48 of rubber or other suitable material may be provided to prevent water passing through the slots in wall 35a necessary for the connections between the handles 42 and 45 and the members 43 and 36. These members may be provided with grooves 43a and 36a for this packing. When the bell is lowered to seat the portion 3 in the compartment 2 and the nuts l4 pass through the openings 38, the gear 43 comes into mesh with the gears l5 on the nuts l4. Then after turning of the member 36 to bring the narrower portions 46 of the openings under the nuts I4 and aboutthe studs I3, operation of the gear 43 willoperate the gears l5 and nuts Hi to clamp these nuts down onto the member 36 and thus securely fasten the bell to the submarine. Then by opening the closures 1 in the submarine and 46 and 41 in the bell, men may pass from the submarine to the bell or vice versa through the passage 49. The closure 46 may be operated either from within the hell or from within the submarine, .and the closure 41 is secured by a catch or clamp 53 which may be operated from either side,

Theoperation of releasing the bell from the submarine is merely the reverse of the above operation; that is, the nuts 40 may be released by turning the gear 43, and then the member 36 may be turned to bring the wider portions 39 in this member into alignment with the nuts l4. This will permit the bell to rise away from the submarine. To prevent the member 36-being turned too far so that the nuts might overhang the opposite edge of the openings an upwardly extending stop or guide flange 5| is provided at this edge of one or more openings. Thus when the member 36 is turned this rib or flange will engage the nut and prevent turning movements of the member 36 beyond the position where the wider portion 39 of the opening is in alignment with the nut.

The arrangement for lowering the bell to the submarine preparatory to securing it to the submarine and for controlling itsupward movement after it has been released is a very simple and effective one. After the buoy or float H? has been allowed to rise to the surface of the water the leads I! may be disconnected and one of them connected to a heavier cable which can then be drawn around the pulley 29 by the leads H as indicated for the cable 52 at the left of Fig. 2, and then one end thereof may be connected to the bell as indicated at 53 and the other portion indicated at'52a passing up through tube 54 may lead to a suitable drum 55 on a winch 56 on a suitable salvage boat 51. The winch may be operated by any suitable means such as an'electric motor 58 through suitable gearing. It will be seen that by operation of the winch the bell may be drawn downwardly by the cable 52 to the submarine and it is steadied by these cables I so that its lower end portion 3 will be properly guided into the chamber 2 and cause the nuts [4 to pass through the openings 39. The cables 52 will hold the bell properly seated in the compartment 2 while the securing means is being operated and the nuts set up. After the desired number of men have passed from the submarine to the bell and the hatches closed the bell may be released as above described and allowed to rise to the surface under control of the winches 56 and guided by the cables 52.

In the modification of Figs. 11' and 12 the bell is designed to be secured to the submarine and carried along with it for escape purposes should some accident happen to the submarine. This bell indicated at 55 is shown as of general oval cross section and somewhat elongated to resemble somewhat the-hull of the boat as indicated in Fig. 12. In the top wall of submarine l is provided a compartment or recess 56 corresponding to the recess or'compartment 2 of Figs. 1 and 2 and the lower part of the bell is shaped to seat in this recess as shown in Fig. 11 and similar to the bell 4 in Fig. 1. The lower part of the bell is shaped at 51 similar to the part 3 of the first form and to seat in the recess. The means for securing the bell in the recess and fastening it to the submarine is the same as that shown in the first form except that the studs 58 corresponding to the studs [3 are not made hollow because the locating buoys or floats I3 are not used. These studs therefore may be smaller, and threaded on them are the nuts 59 having gear teeth 60 the same as the nuts M in the first form. These are adapted to pass through key-hole shaped slots in the securing member 6|, which is the same as the securing member 36 in the first form, and may be rotated by handle 62 to carry the narrower portion of the key-hole slots under the nuts 59 and about the studs 58. Then these nuts may be operated by the gear 63 through the handle 64 in the same manner as the nuts 14 are operated by the gear 43 in the first form. Passage from the submarine to the bell and vice versa is through ports closed by the closures 65 and 66, both of which may be opened and closed either from within the submarine or from within the bell, the closure 66 being controlled by a latch or clamp 61 operable either from the interior of the submarine, after the removal ofthe closure 65, or from the interior of the bell.

To increase the buoyancy of the bell suitable floats 68 may be secured to the opposite sides thereof and the top wall of the submarine may be properly shaped to provide recesses 69 for these floats to seat in. A suitable fibre or rubber gasket 70 may be provided for the device to seat on and make a water-tight joint. With this device should an accident happen so that the submarine would sink members of the crew could pass from the submarine into the bell and then after closing the ports 65 and 66 the nuts 59 may be released and the device allowed to rise to the surface where the device will float until the men are rescured. No attempt has been made to show equipment or other mechanism within this bell. It may be supplied with food and water, a motor for driving it as a boat, and other equipment as desired. It may have one or more hatches H for entering or leaving the bell. Additional securing means 12 may be provided in the floats 68 for fastening them to the submarine of this is found desirable.

It will be readily apparent that either device may be quickly attached to the submarine or other vessel, or released therefrom, by men within the bell, and that men may readily pass either from the submarine tothe bell or from the bell to the submarine as desired.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention what I claim is:

l. A device of the character described comprising a submarine having a compartment in the top wall thereof, having an entrance opening thereto, threaded studs in said compartment, nuts threaded on said studs, an escape bell seated at its lower end in said compartment, a member in the lower part of said bell mounted for turning movements relative to the bell and having keyhole-shaped openings with the larger parts of the openings of a size to permit passage of the nuts and thenarrower parts of a width less than the diameter of the nuts, means within the bell .for turning said member to bring the studs into the narrower portions of said openings, and means within the bell for turning the nuts to clamp them against the member to secure the bell to the submarine.

2. A device of the character described comprising a submarine having a compartment at the top wall thereof and an entrance opening to the compartment, threaded studs in the compartment, nuts formed to provide gears thereon threaded on said studs, an escape bell adapted to seat at its lower end in the compartment, a securing member mounted for turning movement in the lower end of the bell and having keyholeshaped openings with their wider portions of a size to permit passage of the nuts and the narrower portions of less Width than the diameter of the nuts, means for turning the member after passage of the nuts to seat the studs in said narrower portions, a gear adapted to mesh with the first gears, and means for operating the second gear to clamp the nuts on the member to secure the bell to the submarine.

3. A device of the character described comprising a submarine having a plurality of threaded studs, nuts threaded on said studs, an escape bell, a securing member mounted for turning movements in the bell and having keyhole-shaped openings with their wider portions of a size to permit passage of the nuts and the narrower portions of less width than the diameter of the nuts, means to lower the bell and set said member over the studs, means in the bell for turning the member to locate the studs in the narrower portions of said openings, and means in the bell for operating the nuts to clamp them on the member to secure the bell to the submarine.

l. A device of the character described comprising a submarine having a plurality of spaced threaded studs, nuts formed to provide gears thereon threaded on said studs, an escape bell, a securing member mounted for turning movements in the bell and having keyhole-shaped openings with their wider portions of a size to permit passage of the nuts and the narrower portions of less width than the diameter of the nuts, meansin the bell for turning said member to locate the studs in the narrower portions of said openings, a gear in the bell adapted to mesh with the gears on the nuts after said member is set over the studs, and means in the bell for turning said gear to clamp the nuts on the securing member and secure the bell to the submarine.

5. A device of the character described comprising a submarine having a compartment in its upper wall, a buoy in said compartment, a pair of lines secured to said buoy, a drum and pulley over which said lines pass, means for retaining the buoy in the compartment and releasable from within the submarine to permit the buoy to rise to the surface of the water, a line adapted to be connected to-said first line and drawn thereby around the pulley, means for connecting the second line to an escape bell, means for operating said second line to lower the bell, and means on the submarine adapted to cooperate with means on the bell for securing the lowered bell to the submarine. 6. A device of the character described comprising a submarine having a compartment in its upper wall, studs in said compartment, buoys in the compartment, and releasable from within the submarine to permit the buoys to rise to the surface of the'water, a pair of lines connected to each buoy and passing through a stud, a drum and pulley over which each pair of lines pass, a line adapted to be connected to each of said first pair and drawn thereby around the respective pulleys, means for connecting the second lines to an escape bell, means for operating said second lines to lower the bellto the submarine, and means on said studs, adapted .to. cooperate with means on the bell to securethe lowered bell to the submarine.

7.A device of the characterdescribed \comprising a'submarine having a compartment opening through .its upper wall,- studs in said compartment, buoys in the compartment, a pair of lines secured to each buoy and passing through one of said studs, a drum and pulley over which each pair of lines pass, means for operating the drums from within the submarine, means for securing each buoy in the compartment and releasable from within the submarine, means for securing lines passing over the pulleys to an escape bell, means for operating said lines to lower the bell to seat in said compartment, and means on said studs adapted to cooperate with means in the bell to secure the lowered bell to the submarine.

* CASIM'IRO FERRO. 

